But of all the plants we have seen among these people, that which is the most excellent in its kind, and which really excels most if not all that are put to the same uses in other countries, is the plant which serves them instead of hemp or flax.[1] Of this there are two sorts. The leaves of both much resemble those of flags; the flowers are smaller and grow many more together. In one sort they are yellowish, in the other of a deep red. Of the leaves of these plants all their common wearing apparel is made with very little preparation, and all strings, lines, and cordage for every purpose, and that of a strength so much superior to hemp as scarce to bear comparison with it. From these leaves also by another preparation a kind of snow-white fibre is drawn, shining almost as silk, and likewise surprisingly strong; of this all their finer cloths are made: their fishing-nets are also made of these leaves, without any other preparation than splitting them into proper breadths and tying the strips together. So useful a plant would doubtless be a great acquisition to England, especially as one might hope it would thrive there with little trouble, as it seems hardy and affects no particular soil, being found equally on hills and in valleys, in dry soil and the deepest bogs, which last land it seems, however, rather to prefer, as I have always seen it in such places of a larger size than anywhere else.
When first we came ashore we imagined the country to be much better peopled than we afterwards found it; concluding from the smokes that we saw that there were inhabitants very far inland, which indeed in Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty (much the best peopled part of the country that we have seen) may be the case. In all the other parts we have been in we have, however, found the sea coast only inhabited, and that but sparingly, insomuch that the number of inhabitants seems to bear no kind of proportion to the size of the country. This is probably owing to their frequent wars. Besides this the whole coast from Cape Maria Van Diemen to Mount Egmont, and seven-eighths of the Southern Island, seem totally without people.
- ↑ Phormium tenax, Forst, the New Zealand Flax.
